All-Star week comes to Reno

The first-ever all-star game of its kind to visit Northern Nevada makes its 2013 stop in less than two weeks.

With the annual event marking the halfway point of the season, teams are still trying to get a feel for the league while others, namely the Giants, are making fans worry. While there are some surprises, like Boston leading the AL East or Oakland already in first after not taking that position until the final day last year, the season continues to be exciting.

In the National League, Pittsburgh has been the biggest surprise as the Pirates lead the Central but don't forget they were in this position at the break last season and then completely fell off. The Nationals, who had the best record last year, are barely even and seven games out of first while the Giants are six below .500. Good thing the NL West is becoming the NL Worst again because San Francisco is only four games back from first-place Arizona.

But the biggest week of baseball to come to this area is only eight days away. The Triple-A All-Star week kicks off next Saturday and will include many festivities leading up to the July 17 game.

Not only will fans be able to attend the game, which still has general admission tickets remaining, but during next weekend, you will have the opportunity to participate in a two-day fan fest. The fan fest will feature MLB alums Jack Clark, J.T. Snow and Robb Nen signing autographs, along with many games to test fans' batting and baserunning skills and historic displays to catch a glimpse of the highlights of professional baseball through the years.

But if you can't make the fan fest, the popular home run derby follows on July 15, where the best Triple-A hitters square off to see who can not only hit the most out of Aces Ballpark but the farthest. The train trench could be attacked the most it's ever been since the ballpark opened in 2009. The Truckee River could be flowing with baseballs before the night's over.

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Aside from the derby itself, there will be other events going on at the ballpark.

Classic cars from the National Automobile Museum will be on display as well as Street Vibration motorcycles. A drumline from eNVision Performing Arts and performers from Grand Sierra Resort's esc4p3, fire dancing by members of Controlled Burn and hot air balloons from the Great Reno Balloon Race will also be at the ballpark, entertaining the crowd before and during the game.

The opportunity to experience any one of these events is unique because it doesn't happen often in this area. The best sports event Northern Nevada had to offer before the Aces moved to Reno four years ago was inconsistently decent Nevada basketball and football teams, but even the Wolf Pack is struggling to find success and fan support.

Tickets still remain for the fan fest, home run derby and all-star game and they start as low as $8 for adults for the fan fest and $12 for the remaining events.